Breech mechanism of ordnance.



A. T. DAWSON ANDG. LBUCKHAM.

)BREECH MECHANISM OF ORDNANCE.

APPLICATION nuzb APH.13- 1915.

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i i i i E en ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS LIMITED, OF WESTMINSTER,

BREECH .IVIECHANISM OF ORDNAINCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May c, 1919.

Application filed April 13, 1915. Serial No. 21,119.

Breech Mechanism of ()rdnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to breech mechanism' of the kind comprising two pinions mounted in the breech screw at rightangles to one another and driven from a compound pinion on the carrier axis pin or hinge bolt, one of the first mentioned pinions serving to unlock the breech screw and the other to displace it rearwardly in the breech screw carrier before being swung clear of the breech opening by the movement of the carrier about its axis pin or hinge bolt.

The chief object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting the unlocking and rearward movements of the breech screw.

According to this invention each of the two pinions mounted in the carrier and driven from a pinion on the carrier axis pin or hinge bolt is provided with a crank, one

serving to engage with part of. a ring which is rotatably supported in the breech screw carrier and in which the breech screw is slidably mounted and the other to engage with a slot in the breech screw.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into etlect, we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional rear elevation and a sectional side elevation showing a constructional form of the invention, the parts being shown in the position they occupy when the breech screw is locked.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but with the parts in the position they occupy when the breech screw is unlocked and about. to be withdrawn, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are also similar views with the parts in the position they occupy when I the breech screw is fully withdrawn.

"A is part of the breech screw, B is part of the carrier, and C is the carrier axis pin or hinge bolt. D represents the crank pinion (herein called the unlocking crank pinion) for effecting the locking and unlocking movements of the breech screw. E represents the crank pinion (herein called the withdrawing pinion) for effecting the withdrawing and forward movements of the breech screw. F represents the ring in which the breech screw is slidably mounted.

In the example shown the crank pinions D, E are of the bevel type and are driven from a double bevel pinion C (or by two separate pinions) carried by the carrier axis pin C, the withdrawing crank pinion E being arranged close to the axis pin, but not immediately behind the breech screw. The

crank pinions may be mounted on ball or' roller bearings in the carrier. When the breech screw is locked as shown by Figs, 1 and 2, a roller on the unlocking crank pinion D engages with a slot f in an arm F forming part of the ring F. A roller on the withdrawing crank pinion E is at this time out of engagement withthe slot B in the breech screw. When the axis pin C is 1'0- tated to unlock the breech screw the unlocking crank pinion D is angularly displaced in z'," a clockwlse direction (when viewed 'from the rear) and the crank pinion E is displaced in the opposite direction when viewed from the right hand side. This angular movement of the crank pinion D unlocks the breech screw through the intermediary of the ring F and when this operation has been completed the withdrawing crank pinion E enters the slot B in the breech screw as shown in Fig. 4 so that continued movement of the carrier axis pin displaces the breech screw into the fully withdrawn position shown in Fig. 6. During this operation the crank pinion D has moved clear of the slot f into the position shown by Fig. 5 the formation of this slot being such that when the unlocking is completed and the crank pinion E is in position catch. During the closing and locking of I the breech the above described operations are reversed.

The carrier axis pin Cmay be operated by hand or power through worm gearing at one, of its extremities. The hand wheel or motor for operating the breech nleehanism may be carried on a uon-recoiling part of the mount ing as is well understood.

\Vhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In breech mechanism for ordnance, the combination with the carrier axis pin or hinge bolt, of two pinions thereon, a crank, driven from one of said pinions, for unlock ing the ln'eeclrscrew, and a second crank, driven from the other of said pinions, for withdrawing said breech screw, said second crank being arranged to rotate in a vertical plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of the gun and between the said axis and the axis of the said 3. In breech mechanism for ordnance, the

combination with the *arrier axis pin or hinge belt, of a member in which the breech screw is slidably mounted, a crank, driven from said axis pin, for engaging with a slot in said member to unlock the breech screw, and a second crank, also driven from said axis pin, for engaging in a slot. in the breech screw to withdraw the breech screw, said second crank being arranged to rotate in a vertical plane substantially parallel to a vertic-a1 plane containing the axis of the gun and between the said axis and the axis of the said pin or bolt.

4. In breech mechanism for ordnance, the

combination with the carrier axis pin or 60 hinge bolt, of a. crank driven from said axis pin for unlocking the breech screw, and a. second crank arranged with its axis at right angles to that of the first mentioned crank and arranged to rotate in a vertical plane from the axis pin for withdrawing the breech screw.

5. In breech Inechamsm for Ordnance, the comblnatlon with the carrier axis pin or hinge bolt, of two p'inions thereon, a crank pinion, gearing with one of said pinions, for

unlocking the breech screw, and a second crank pinion arranged with its axis at right angles to that of the first mentioned crank pinion and arranged to rotate in a vertical plane substantially parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of the gun and between the'said axis and the axis of-the said pin or bolt, said second crank pinion gearing with the other of said pinion-s on the axis pin for Withdrawing the breech screw.

Intestimony whereof We atfix onrsignatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. GEORGE THOMAS BUCKH'AM. Witnessw: I

HENRY KING, J NO. R. CAswELL. 

